Kathmandu - National and international organisations have issued a unified call to end the growing threat of digital violence targeting women and girls in Nepal, urging citizens, institutions, and policymakers to take coordinated action to ensure online safety and dignity for all.
The appeal comes during the global 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, as stories from across Nepal highlight the seriousness of online abuse. Cases like Mahima from Myagdi, who has been receiving digital threats from someone familiar with her daily movements, and Sarina from Sarlahi, whose young daughter’s image was manipulated into a deepfake and circulated online, underline the alarming rise of technology-enabled harm.
Advocates say these incidents reflect the silent suffering experienced by many women and girls who face online stalking, harassment, extortion, non-consensual image sharing, and AI-generated abuses. According to gender rights groups, digital spaces-once seen as platforms for connection and empowerment-have increasingly become environments of fear for vulnerable users.
In a joint statement, the United Nations in Nepal, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Permanent Mission of Nepal to the UN in New York, and development partners such as UN Women, UNFPA, and UNESCO emphasized that “online safety is not a privilege but a fundamental right.” The organisations called upon governments, tech companies, educators, and communities to recognize digital safety as an essential part of women’s rights and equality.
The campaign urges stronger legislation, improved law enforcement response, digital literacy, and community awareness to prevent and respond to technology-facilitated violence. Stakeholders stress that ending online violence is a shared responsibility requiring unified action.
“Fear will not have the last word,” the statement declares. “Now is the moment to build a digital world where every woman and girl can live, lead, and dream - without fear.”
The message concludes with a powerful call in Nepali: “हामी सबै हातेमालो गरी महिला र बालिकामाथि हुने डिजिटल हिंसाको अन्त्य गरौँ।”
Let us end digital violence against women and girls - together.
